Hungary’s media battle
Is the country’s new media law an effort by the Orban government to centralise control and curb media freedom?
It has been more than a year now since Hungary’s conservative government led by Viktor Orban passed a media law that drove thousands of Hungarians onto the streets in protest. They claim the law is an effort by the Orban government to centralise control and curb media freedom.
One radio station that has staunchly and publically opposed the government and this law is Klub Radio. But now the liberal station finds itself fighting for its life as its broadcasting license is threatened.
Looming in the background of this debate is the European Union, which is keeping a close eye on press freedom in Hungary. A relatively new member to the EU, Hungary is subject to some stringent media freedom standards. Standards critics say the country no longer meets. Listening Post‘s Flo Phillips went to Hungary for a first-hand account of its media battle.
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“They are not just making favourable coverage with their own people installed in key positions, reporters, editors also included, how they are hired. But they even change, alter the facts….. they have been manipulating the news in the last 18 months. That’s which is I think unacceptable and that’s why when the whole protest on 10th of December 2011 had started …. You cannot say that I’m joining Europe just for the benefits for me or for my interest, but when the rules are not… favourable for me, then you don’t abide with the rules, so democratic instructions, freedom of press, are parts of this rule.” Balazs Nagy, a former state TV journalist |